Japan weighs calling China a 'threat' in security documents

Japan will decide by year-end whether to call China a "threat" in three major security documents it plans to revise. These papers—the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program—were last updated in December 2022.

Tensions between Japan and China have increased significantly since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made parliamentary remarks about a possible Taiwan contingency in November. Using stronger language than the current documents could worsen relations further.

The revision process will test how directly Japan names China as a security concern. The current versions, written four years ago, predate the recent escalation of disputes between the two nations.

Taiwan has become a focal point of friction. Takaichi's comments about how Japan might respond to a crisis across the Taiwan Strait sparked criticism from Beijing and raised regional tensions.

The three documents form the backbone of Japan's defense and foreign policy. Their wording carries weight internationally and signals Tokyo's strategic stance. The choice of language—whether to use "threat," "challenge," or another term—will shape how Japan frames its approach to China for years to come.